Lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar on Friday admitted that his son Farhan Akhtar starrer Rock On 2 was hit by demonetisation as the film released close to the November 8 decision by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

“Rock on 2 was obviously affected by demonetisation,” Javed Akhtar, who wrote the lyrics of the movie which fared poorly at the box office, told media persons here.

“It released (November 11) days after the decision was taken and failed to do well because 84 percent of the currency was banned and people were struggling,” he added.

Asked about the much-anticipated Shah Rukh Khan starrer “Dear Zindagi”, which opened on Friday, Javed Akhtar said: “Well I suppose the buying capacity and the spending capacity of an average citizen has become a bit shy that’s for sure.”

He also reasoned that the fact that “Dear Zindagi” is not a typical Shah Rukh film, the masses crazy for the superstar will take the time to get a hang of it.

“‘Dear Zindagi’ is not a typical mainstream commercial Shah Rukh Khan film. It is by temperament a niche film. I saw it a couple of days ago and it’s a beautiful film and anybody who likes to see good films must see it.

“I have nothing to do with the picture so there is no vested interest at all. But Shah Rukh is very good in this picture and this girl Alia Bhatt is unbelievable. She is so good,” Javed Akhtar said waxing eloquent on the Gauri Shinde directorial which shows Shah Rukh as a psychiatrist to troubled Alia.

Javed Akhtar, however, said he was a “die-hard optimist” about the success of demonetisation.

“I am a die-hard optimist in this case also. These are phases. What is bigger is the interest of the nation itself. The resilience of the nation.”

“Politics is not the nation, politics can influence or imprison nation for a while but the nation is much more important than all politics put together. Because the nation is people.”

“And if you are unhappy with what you are seeing I can assure you India is a very sensible nation. Indians are not fools. They make mistakes anybody can, but they realise what is right for them,” Javed Akhtar continued on demonetisation.